Tottenham reached the FA Cup semi-finals in 1995, but they very nearly didn't take part in the tournament at all.

Spurs sealed their place in the last four of football's oldest cup competition with a famous 2-1 victory over Liverpool in the quarter-finals, thanks to goals from Teddy Sheringham and Jurgen Klinsmann.

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Teddy Sheringham scored four goals in Tottenham's FA Cup run in the 1994/95 seasonCredit: Getty

Despite the memorable day, Gerry Francis' side were ultimately knocked out of the cup in the next round, where they were well beaten by eventual winners Everton.

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But they may well have counted themselves lucky to even be in the draw in the first place.

That is because Spurs were initially banned from the 1994/95 FA Cup, after being found guilty of financial irregularities in 1994.

Not only that, the north London outfit were also slapped with a record £600,000 fine, and docked 12 points ahead of the upcoming Premier League campaign.

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Then owned by Alan Sugar, the club found themselves in trouble with the Football Association (FA) for illegal payments made to players by their previous owners in the 1980s.

And while this was no doubt a hefty punishment, it could have been even worse.

The FA had initially planned to relegate Spurs to Division One for their financial misdemeanours, before an inquiry ultimately decided against this in favour of multiple sanctions.

Having declared the illegal transactions to the Inland Revenue in 1991, Lord Sugar was left infuriated by the treatment afforded to his club.

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Speaking after the FA delivered their verdict, he said: “I was always brought up to believe honesty is the best policy, and have followed that throughout my career.

"I have been assured by the FA commission that there is no personal vendetta against Spurs and that we are being dealt with on a level playing field.

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Alan Sugar was chairman and part-owner of Tottenham between 1991 and 2001Credit: Getty

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Tottenham found themselves battling on and off the pitch in the 1994/95 campaignCredit: Getty

“That being the case, and in view of the Inland Revenue inquiries into most Premiership clubs, my suggestion to the chairmen of other clubs is to follow my lead and disclose any irregularities.

"This is because if the punishment dealt out to us as a result of being honest is anything to go by, then God knows what could happen to them if the FA were to stumble across irregularities.”

It wasn't just the businessman who couldn't believe the severity of the punishment, with then Tottenham midfielder David Howells also expressing his shock.

"They might just as well have gone ahead and relegated us.

I'm absolutely staggered."

But a determined Sugar vowed to fight the brutal sanctions, immediately announcing an appeal.

His efforts ultimately paid off, with the arbitration panel halving his club's Premier League points deduction to six points, and overturning their FA Cup ban, although their fine was increased to £1.5million.

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Spurs overcame a Liverpool side that boasted stars such as John BarnesCredit: Getty

This paved the way for a memorable run in the historic competition, with Spurs beating Altrincham, Sunderland and Southampton to set up a quarter-final clash with Liverpool - title contenders at the start of the season - at Anfield.

It proved to be a defining day for one of the club's deadliest ever duos, with Sheringham levelling the tie after Robbie Fowler had given the Reds the lead.

And it was Klinsmann, who became a club icon with his 29-goal solitary season at White Hart Lane, who decided the clash.

With just two minutes remaining of normal time, the German latched onto Sheringham's flick to net the winner in front of the Kop, sparking wild scenes.

This was the first time Spurs had ever beaten Liverpool in the FA Cup, and left Klinsmann in tears at full-time.

Reflecting on the special day in 2014, the former striker said: "When I grew up we had the English league on TV and when I was little, those were the great years of Liverpool.

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Klinsmann slotted the ball past David James to beat Liverpool in front of a packed AnfieldCredit: Getty

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The German won the Football Writers' Footballer of the Year award for his heroics in the 1994/95 season at TottenhamCredit: Getty Images - Getty

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Klinsmann and Sheringham were unstoppable and both scored great goals at AnfieldCredit: Getty

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Sheringham was elated and recalled being clapped off the pitch by the Kop at full-timeCredit: Getty

"To play them at this famous stadium, Anfield, which has such a big name around the continent and then scoring that goal a minute before the end, winning the game...

"I will always remember the Liverpool fans clapping us off the pitch and that is fair play you can only expect in England.

The Liverpool fans clapped us off. 

“We were that good.

All the Liverpool players weren't happy [and] obviously shot down the tunnel [at full-time].

“We were still out clapping our fans, and then the Liverpool Kop actually applauded us and all down the main stand clapped us off the pitch, because it was such a great performance.

“Very nice, you don't hear that very often about rival supporters.”

Though Spurs were thrashed 4-1 by Everton in the semi-finals a month later, it will surely be their historic victory in the last eight of a competition they were never supposed to take part in which lives longest in the memory of fans.

Fast forward 30 years and, like then, not many will give Spurs a hope of getting anything from Anfield when they visit for their Premier League clash.

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Liverpool need just a point to win the league and, given the 6-3 win in the reverse fixture and Spurs' form, seem certain do so.
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